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Harry Julian, 39

President, Pure Naples / Marine Team International

With 20 boats and 35 employees, Pure Naples is on track to be a $4 million-a-year company.

That’s a big jump from 2009, when Julian purchased a small tour-boat operator called Cruise Naples and notched $1.3 million in sales that year. “When we started, our plan was to keep it small and simple,” laughs Julian.

But the company has expanded, adding thrills like jet boats, establishing new cruises near the Edison Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers and creating a film-production company. Pure Naples is also building a dive boat that will take scuba divers to newly established artificial reefs off the Southwest Florida coast.

Julian, a New Zealander, settled in his wife’s hometown of Naples after they met on the set of a “Survivor” episode in the Amazon jungle in 2002. Julian and his father, Lance Julian, operate Marine Team, a company that provides water-borne logistics and coordinates special effects for big-budget movies such as “Titanic,” “Superman” and James Bond thriller “Quantum of Solace.”

While the elder Julian runs Marine Team, Harry Julian prefers to remain in Naples with his wife and children. Finding a balance between work and family has been a challenge as he grows Pure Naples.

“Admittedly, the last three months I’ve been tapped out,” he says. But, he adds: “I’ve surrounded myself with great people.”

— Jean Gruss

Q&A

City of residence: Naples

Years on the Gulf Coast: 13

Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand

Marital status/children: Married with two children, Madeline, 8, and Lance, 5.

Alma mater: California Maritime Academy

Best place to network: My work. Every customer we serve is a networking opportunity.

Coolest business experience: Meeting my wife 900 miles up the Amazon river working on the TV show “Survivor.”

The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Without good customer service you have nothing.